It is finally nice and cool enough in the evenings to sit outside with a cup of tea and enjoy the fading lights of dusk on your front porch or backyard. But Lord! Those dry patches on the lawn certainly have a way of killing the mood. As pesky and unkind on the eyes (and bare feet) as they are, rest assured that they are fully manageable. Here's how to revive a dry and patchy lawn.
What's your name?
First, like any illness or ache that attacks humans or animals, the first step to healing is to identify and name the problem. What you'll want to do is figure out what type of grass you have. The perfect time to plant new seeds is either right now (early fall) or early spring. Hurry up and identify your grass species so that you know what seeds and fertilizer to purchase.
Out with the old, in with the new
Sometimes, when the grass is pressed too heavily or when it has been growing for years, a thick layer of thatch will grow around the roots of your grass. This is a natural mixture of dead grass, roots, and organic matter. Once it's too thick, it suffocates your grass, so what you need to do is to dethatch with a simple manual claw cultivator. This tool has a few varying designs. You can see the simplest and cheapest one in the picture above. It looks like a small rake.
Water thoroughly but sparingly
Sow the grass in a thin layer on top of bare soil. An optional step is to run the cultivator once more over the seeds to help them go deeper into the soil. Naturally, the next step is to feed the seeds with a fertilizer fit for starter lawns.
Grass requires a lot of water to sustain itself and even more when it is just starting to grow. That is why a green lawn was considered a sign of wealth in the past, and many aristocrats and royal courts flaunted wide green grass beds. They were the only ones wealthy enough to afford all that water!
You should keep the soil moist at all times, but avoid creating a puddle or swamp. A good way to find this balance is to use a sprinkler.
Sit tight
The last crucial and active step is to do... nothing. Yes, once your grass is on the go, leave it be and avoid mowing it until it has grown to a minimum height of 2 inches. If you follow all of these simple tips, your lawn will be as green and beautiful as ever!
